Head to Manchester city centre this October for the most monstrous of Halloweens.
Free family-friendly event Halloween in the City is back and guaranteed to lift your spirits, featuring monsters around every corner and a fa-boo-lous line-up of entertainment and activities on Saturday 29th & Sunday 30th October.
2022’s line-up will see a massive monster music festival hits the city’s streets, the return of the giant inflatable MCR monsters and a Fancy Dress Challenge, all organised by Manchester Business Improvement District on behalf of the city’s shops and restaurants.
New for this year is the Monsters Rock! Music Festival, featuring monster bands, scary DJs, a glow in the dark dance party, Halloween vogue balls and a pumpkin patch chill out zone, spanning the city’s St Ann’s Square, Market Street and Exchange Square.
There’s also a Monsters Rock Procession courtesy of Walk the Plank, the creative minds behind the Manchester Day Parade, featuring giant puppet monsters, stilt walkers and a live band, a family-friendly freakshow Carnival Zone with roaming circus acts and freaky fun rides and Scare Skate (entry fees apply) at Manchester’s outdoor ice rink in Cathedral
Gardens featuring spooky music and lighting and a band of ghoulish skating monsters joining skaters.
If you’ve got it, haunt it – families are encouraged to come dressed up in their coolest costumes to take part in the official Halloween in the City Fancy Dress Challenge and unlock VIP experiences, rewards and prizes throughout the weekend.
Visitors in costume will be able to claim a free wristband and choose to become part of either Team Trick or Team Treat.
Both teams will be competing to be named the spookiest team, with lots of opportunities to win points for your team during the weekend including dance-offs, costume catwalks, games, screaming competitions and more. Those unable to come dressed up don’t need to miss out with free Halloween masks and monstrous crafting available at points throughout the festival area.
The MCR Monsters will also be back for 2022 from Tuesday 25 – Monday 31 October. Created by artists Filthy Luker and Pedro Estrellas, a few familiar faces will be back in the city, alongside new monsters commissioned especially for this year’s
festivities.
In addition to those located on rooftops at Manchester Arndale, Selfridges, The Royal Exchange Manchester, and Kampus, visitors can get up close and personal and grab a selfie (if they dare) with monsters located in St Ann’s Square, Exchange Square and New Cathedral Street from Friday 28th – Sunday 30th October.
Jane Sharrocks, Manchester BID Chair said, “On behalf of city centre shops, restaurants and businesses, we’re delighted to bring back Halloween in the City for 2022, with what will be our biggest event programme to date.
With the cost of living very much in people’s minds, this event will give local families the opportunity to come together to celebrate Halloween and take part in a weekend packed full of free entertainment and activities at the end of the October half term.”
For event updates follow @halloweenMCR.
